PNN – Member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee Hanan Ashrawi, On the holy occasion of Palm Sunday and beginning of the Holy Week in Jerusalem, spoke of her outrage at the increasing denial of entry to Jerusalem for Palestinian Christians, saying «there should not even be a question of needing permits to visit one’s own city.»

In a press release, Ashrawi said that early reports indicate that Palestinian Christian communities from the northern West Bank had to cancel their Palm Sunday celebrations in Jerusalem due to a lack of Israeli-issued permits.

Several scout groups are also unable to participate in the celebrations for the same reason. Parishes from the Bethlehem and Ramallah areas received between 30% and 40% of the permits they requested from the occupation authorities, the release added.

It said that since occupying East Jerusalem in 1967, Israel has forcibly denied millions of Palestinians and Arabs the right to access East Jerusalem, issuing limited numbers of permits for some holy events.